Trinity Hosts Major Symposium on Catholic Social Justice Teaching

Trinity Washington University will host “From Leo XIII to Leo XIV: A Century of Social Justice Shaping Trinity,” a day-long symposium examining the evolution and contemporary relevance of Catholic social teaching, on Friday, October 24, in O’Connor Auditorium. The event will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

The symposium brings together nationally recognized scholars, advocacy leaders, and Trinity community members to explore how Catholic social justice principles address today’s most pressing challenges, from immigration reform to environmental sustainability.

“This symposium is a wonderful opportunity to come together to discuss one of Trinity’s most essential core mission values and how Social Justice affects all that we do today,” said President Patricia McGuire, who will open the event at 9:30 a.m. with a keynote on Pope Leo XIII’s foundational influence on Trinity’s 125-year commitment to social justice education.

The symposium is part of Trinity’s All Trinity Alumnae/i Reunion weekend, bringing together graduates from across the decades to reconnect with their alma mater and engage with critical contemporary issues.

The program features an impressive interdisciplinary lineup of panels and discussions. A morning session on “Social Justice in America 2025: Witness in the Public Square” will be moderated by Dr. Stephen Thorne, Distinguished Professor of Education, and will include perspectives from Ralph McCloud of NETWORK, Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy from the Catholic Mobilizing Network, and Kim Daniels from Georgetown’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life.

Christopher White, Vatican correspondent and author of the newly released “Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy,” will discuss the current pontiff’s vision for renewing social justice in the 21st century. Copies of his book will be available for symposium participants.

The afternoon program tackles urgent contemporary issues, including a panel on “The Immigration Crisis and the Imperative of Social Justice” featuring Trinity’s own Rosa Reyes ’21, Director of TheDream.us Partnership, alongside representatives from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities DC. Current Trinity students Belky Lemus Alvarado ’27 and Sayuri Cervantes Perez ’26 will also contribute their perspectives.

Dr. Amelia Uelmen from Georgetown University Law Center will address the intersection of Catholic mission, social justice, and diversity initiatives in higher education during a noon session moderated by Dr. Jeannine Marino, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies.

The symposium concludes with an innovative environmental justice component – a campus walk led by Dr. Patrice Nielson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, connecting care for creation with Trinity’s commitment to sustainability.

This interdisciplinary gathering reflects the breadth of Trinity’s academic programs, and  Trinity’s distinctive strengths in serving immigrant and first-generation college students, with current students and recent graduates like Rosa Reyes ’21 playing prominent roles alongside national experts.

The integration of environmental justice, immigration advocacy, and Catholic social teaching demonstrates how Trinity’s curriculum connects faith-based values with real-world social challenges, driven by it’s mission of educating women who will transform society through leadership and service.

The symposium is free and open to the Trinity community and will be livestreamed for remote participants. Boxed lunches will be provided for all in-person attendees. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in O’Connor Auditorium, with the environmental walk departing from the auditorium at 2:30 p.m.